Two directional swinging gate



Nov.30, 1965 J. L. KEES TWO DIRECTIONAL SWINGING GATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 6 9 4 HUIM 2 4 5 vim 6% w/ filll w w C 2 2 w .4 49 9 5 7 l g F n4 26 A /a Joe L. Kees INVENTOR.

BY Attorneys Nov. 30, 1965 J. L. KEES TWO DIRECTIONAL SWINGING GATE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 30, 1963 Fig.2

Jae L. Kees INVENTOR.

" Nov. 30, 1965 J. L. KEES 3,220,124

TWO DIRECTIONAL SWINGING GATE Filed Aug. 30, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 4

Joe L. Kees IN VENTOR.

3,220,124 TWO DIRECTIONAL SWINGING GATE Joe L. Kees, Box 629, Jonesboro, La. Filed Aug. 30, 1963, Ser. No. 305,445 14 Claims. (Cl. 397 6) This invention relates to an improved combination gate and latch assembly suitable for stock transportation or the like.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a stock gate which may be mounted upon stock transportation means and which is capable of being operated and selectively positioned in one of four positions at the option of the user when either obstructions or restricted areas are encountered.

In order to accomplish the preceding objective, it is a more specific object of the invention to provide a gate construction including duplicate sets of vertical and horizontal hinges and latches that permit a gate member to be tilted open either to the right or left of its normal position about said horizontal hinges or to be swung open from its normal position on either set of vertical hinges. The latches used in conjunction with the gate member keep the gate locked in its closed position when properly engaged by the user.

Another object of this invention resides in the fact that the gate member may be bodily removed by completely lifting it off its horizontal assembling, supporting and fulcruming journals thereby leaving the rear of the vehicle wholly open for unhampered usage.

A further object of this invention resides in its simplicity of construction and use and ready adaptability for commercial production.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a swinging and rotatable gate comprising the subject matter of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the gate shown in FIGURE 1 with the gate rotated 180.

FIGURE 3 is a side view in elevation of the gate shown in FIGURE 2, taken on the line 3-3 and looking in the direction of the indicating arrows.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view but illustrating the gate member of the invention in one of its open positions.

FIGURE 5 is a side view in elevation of the gate shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an end view in elevation of the gate as seen from the right hand side of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the lower right hand corner portion of the gate shown in FIGURE 1 with the gate in one of its open positions.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective of the upper right hand corner portion of the gate shown in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a cross sectional view taken substantially along the plane indicated by the line 9-9 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the gate comprising the subject matter of the instant invention is generally designated by the numeral 10 and includes a stationary frame 12 and a movable frame 14 positioned in a plane parallel to and spaced from the stationary frame. The gate structure may be mounted upon a suitable base such as 15 which may comprise the floor of a stock transportation vehicle or the like. The stationary frame 12 includes a pair of hollow upright members 16 and 18 United States Patent 0 3,226,124 Patented Nov. 30, 1965 "ice and the movable frame 14 similarly includes a pair of uprights 20 and 22.

A pair of rotatable upright hinge members comprising elongated rods 24 and 26 are carried within each of the uprights 16, 18. A pair of horizontal connecting elements 28 and 30 suitably secured to the top of the uprights 22 and 20 respectively at one of their .ends is connected to the vertical hinges 26 and 24 at their other ends, rotatably mounting the uprights 22, 20 with respect to the stationary frame 12. A second pair of connecting elements are positioned between the uprights adjacent the bottom thereof as shown most clearly in FIGURES l and 7. Said second connectors each comprise a tubular cylindrical portion 32 rotatably carried on each of the rods 24, 26 between a first and second portion 34 and 36 of each of the stationary uprights 16 and 18. A horizontal sleeve 38 is secured to each of the rotatable cylindrical portions 32 at one of their ends and rigidly secured to each of the legs 20, 22 at their other ends. Each of the legs 20, 22 of the movable frame 14 also comprises two portions one of which is stationary as indicated by the numeral 40 and the other of which, indicated by the numeral 42, is movable with respect to the stationary uprights due to the pivotable connection just described.

A swinging and rotatable gate member designated by the numeral 44 is sandwiched between the stationary and movable frames 12 and 14 respectively. The right and left corner portion of gate member 44 are provided with semi-cylindrical fulcruming segments 46 and 48 which are adapted to tiltingly seat upon their respective horizontal sleeves or journals 38 between the movable and stationary uprights. A pair of U-shaped handles 50 and 52 also extend outwardly from each of the normally vertical side members of the gate member 44. It should thus be apparent that upon pulling of either of the handles 50, 52 the gate member 44 can be tiltingly fulcrumed about either of the horizontal sleeves 38 by means of the pivot.- able or fulcruming connection between each of the semicylindrical segments 46, 48 with said sleeves 38. This is substantially shown by the phantom lines of FIGURE 3. In order to prevent the gate member 44 from swinging out too far and being disconnected from the frames 12 and 14 and to tilt and hold the gate member 44 in cantilevered fashion from either the right or left hand side of the gate an L-shaped stop member 54 depends from the bottom of the gate member 44. Therefore, when the gate member 44 is swung as shown in FIGURE 3, the L- shaped stop member will abut either of the legs 20, 22 it will be held tightly thereagainst by gravity thus precluding the gate member 44 from being separated from the spaced legs.

The stationary frame 12 not only comprises the stationary legs or uprights 16 and 18 but includes a horizontal frame member 56 which spans and connects the upper ends of said legs. A tubular cylindrical member 58 is rigidly exteriorly secured to the connecting or cross member 56. A lock comprising a wire rod 60 is provided for preventing the gate member 44 from swinging as shown in FIGURE 3. The wire rod includes a horizontal portion swivelly disposed within the cylindrical tube 58 and a pair of downwardly projecting vertical limb portions 62 and 64 at the ends of said horizontal portion. Each of said portions 62, 64 includes a horizontal terminal portion such as 66 and 68 at thereto. Aligned apertures may be formed in the adjacent legs of the movable and stationary frames for the reception of each of said portions 66, 68 of the rod 60. When these portions are positioned in these aligned apertures, as shown in FIG- URE 1 they overlie the gate member 44 and prevent it from swinging in either direction. A handle 70 extends laterally from the depending portion 64 and a handle 72 extends laterally from the depending portion 62 of the rod 60 to enable the user to grasp the rod and pivot it to the phantom line releasing position shown in FIGURE 6 whereby the gate is freed and may be swung out.

In order to prevent either of the portions 42 of the legs 20, 22 from swinging relative to the stationary upright 16, 18, a pair of latches each one of which is designated by the numeral 74 (FIG. 8) is provided. Since both of these latches are structurally alike and operate similarly, a description of one will be given with the understanding that the other operates in the same manner. With reference specifically to FIGURES l and 8, it will be seen that a pair of longitudinally spaced supporting elements 76 and 78 extend laterally from the horizontal connecting member 56 between the uprights 16 and 18. A keeper supporting bar 80 is connected between the lateral supporting members 76 and 78. A pair of upstanding keeper plates 82 and 84 having an elongated aperture 86 are mounted on the horizontal keeper bar 80.

The latch 74 comprises an L-shaped wire rod having a horizontal pivot portion 88 and a vertical handle portion 90. One end of the horizontal portion 88 is bent upwardly to form a keeper hook 92. A cylindrical sleeve 94 receives the horizontal portion 88 and is secured to a projection 96 which extends laterally from the movable upright 22. A coil spring 98 is wound about the horizontal portion 88 between the sleeve 94 and a washer 100 applied on the horizontal portion. The coil spring 98 normally biases the horizontal portion 88 of the latch 74 away from the keeper plate 84 and towards the right as viewed in FIGURE 8. A channel-shaped clip 102 is secured to the laterally projecting member 96 and is adapted to be positioned over one of the supports 76 when the latch 74 is closed. As seen in FIGURE 1, the coil spring 98 will normally bias the hook 92 up against the keeper plate after the horizontal portion has been disposed through the slot 86 in the keeper plate. This will prevent either of the movable uprights from rotating when the latches are so disposed. However, by grasping and rotating the vertical handle portion 90 of the latch 74 away from a bracket 104 carried on the side of the uprights and having a seating notch for the reception of said portion, the hook 92 may be aligned with the elongated aperture 86 in the keeper plate. The horizontal portion 88 will then be biased by means of a coil spring 98 outwardly thereby withdrawing said horizontal portion from the keeper plate. This will operatively condition the gate member 44 for each swinging movement about either of the rods 24, 26 depending upon which latch has been opened.

The gate member 44 may be positioned in any one of four positions as follows: Starting from the closed position as shown in FIGURE 1, the handles 70 and 72 of the lock may be grasped and pulled rearwardly as shown in FIGURE 6. This will remove the horizontally bent portions 68 and 66 of the rod from engagement with the apertures through adjacent uprights in the movable and stationary frames. Since these members no longer overlie the gate member 44, the gate member is free to be swung as shown in FIGURE 3 by grasping either of the handles 50, 52 and pivoting the gate member about either of the horizontal fulcruming sleeves 38 until the L-shaped stop member 54 abuts either of the uprights 16 or 18 to position the gate member 44 in cantilevered fashion with respect to the frames 12 and 14.

Once the gate member 44 has been so positioned, the vertical depending portion of either of the latches 74 may be rotated, depending upon which side of the frames 12 and 14 the gate member 44 has been tiltingly positioned. The coil spring 98 will cause the hook 92 on the end of the horizontal portion 88 of the latch member to clear its retaining keeper plate. The upright portion or stile 42 of the movable frame 14 may then be rotated, as illustrated in FIGURE 2 about the corresponding vertical hinge rod carried in one of the hollow stationary uprights. Not only will be the upright portion 42 rotate about the vertical axis but the horizontal connecting sleeve or fulcrum 38 will also be transported and positioned as shown in FIGURE 7. Since the gate member 44 is held on said sleeve and by the stop 54 in abutting engagement with the upright portion 42, the gate will swing to a position perpendicular to the stationary frame 12. To once again close the gate, it is only necessary to reverse the steps described above.

To facilitate the swinging movement of the gate member 44, a pair of angle irons 106 and 108 are positioned on the inner sides of the uprights 18 and 22 for guiding the gate member during its swinging or tilting motion. Similar angle irons 110 and 112 are positioned, upon the uprights 18 and 20 respectively. Further, the outer sides of the gate member 44 have a pair of angle irons 114 and 116 disposed adjacent the bottom thereof for further guiding the movement of the gate when it is swinging.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling Within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A swinging and rotatable gate comprising a stationary frame means including at least one hollow stationary upright, a movable frame complemental to said first-named frame and including at least one movable upright positioned in a plane parallel to and spaced from said stationary upright, vertical hinge means carried within the hollow portion of said stationary upright, means operatively connecting said movable upright to said hinge means for rotatable movement with respect to said stationary upright, said means including a horizontal connector spanning the space between said uprights and oriented for horizontal swinging movement in conjunction with said movable upright and defining a horizontal pivot axis, and a gate member sandwiched between said uprights and having means for pivotally mounting said gate member on said horizontal connector for swinging movement in a vertical plane.

2. The gate of claim 1 including latch means between said uprights for preventing rotatable movement of said movable upright relative to said stationary upright.

3. The gate of claim 1 including lock means connecting said uprights and overlying said gate member for preventing swinging movement of said gate member.

4. A swingable and rotatable gate comprising a stationary frame including a pair of spaced parallel stationary uprights, a movable frame including a pair of independently movable uprights positioned in a plane parallel to and spaced from said stationary uprights, vertical hinge means carried by each of said stationary uprights, means connecting each of said movable uprights to said hinge means for independent rotatable movement with respect to said stationary uprights and each other, said means including independent connectors spanning the space between lower portions of said uprights rotatably and independently connecting said movable uprights to their respective hinge means, said connectors including a pair of parallel horizontal portions, each of which defines a horizontal pivot axis, and a gate member sandwiched between said stationary and movable frames and having means pivotally mounting said gate member on said horizontal portions for swinging movement about either one of said connectors in a vertical plane.

5. The gate of claim 4 including a pair of latch means between said frames for preventing rotation of said movable uprights relative to said stationary uprights.

6. The gate of claim 4 including lock means between said frames and overlying said gate member for preventing swinging movement thereof about either of said horizontal portions.

7. The gate of claim 4 wherein said gate member includes means for limiting the swinging movement to a position cantilevered from either end of the parallel frames.

8. The gate of claim 5 wherein said latch means in cludes a pair of spring biased latch members carried by said movable uprights and releasably positionable in keeper members supported by said stationary uprights.

9. The gate of claim 6 wherein said lock means includes a hinge supported between by said stationary uprights having a pair of pointed terminal members swingable in planes normal to said stationary and movable frames, the pointed ends of members being received within aligned apertures in said spaced frames and overlying and retaining said gate member in its normal closing positions.

10. A gate construction comprising, in combination, horizontal base means, a vertic'ally disposed frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel vertically elongated coplanar uprights fixed to and having their upper ends joined to each other, a first stile substantially commensurate in length with one of said uprights and having upper and lower portions connected to corresponding portions of said one upright, opposed to, spaced from and parallel with said one upright and providing an intervening vertically elongated gate accommodating space, a first horizontal gate supporting journal member at right angles to and connected with lower portions of said first stile and said one upright and spanning the space therebetween, a second stile like said first stile and likewise commensurate in length with said uprights and opposed to the other upright, spaced from, parallel with and having its respective upper and lower portions operatively connected to corresponding portions of said other upright and providing a like vertically elongated intervening gate accommodating space, a second gate supporting journal member, horizontal and coplanar with said first journal member and also at right angles to and interconnecting the respective lower portions of said second stile and said other upright, and a two-way optionally tiltable vertically disposed gate spanning and bridging the space between said uprights and stiles and assuming a normal vertical closing position with its vertical marginal portions oriented with and confined in the respective gate accommodating spaces, the lower righthand and lefthand corner portions respectively of said gate having horizontal assembling, seating and fulcruming brackets pivotally resting atop their respective journal members and permitting said gate to swing bodily in a vertical plane outwardly through and beyond either of said gate accommodating spaces to assume left and right open positions.

11. The structure according to claim 10, and wherein the upper portion of said gate is disposed in a horizontal plane well below the upper end portions of said uprights and stiles to provide full and unobstructed space clearance requirements as the gate is switched by way of said spaces either outward or inward in relation to the uprights and stiles.

12. The structure defined in claim 10, and in combination manually actuatable latching and retaining means for said gate operatively mounted on the upper part of said frame and having holdown and retaining fingers normally bridging the upper part of the gate in a manner to fasten the gate in its normal closed state.

13. The structure according to claim 10, and wherein said upper and lower portions of said stiles are vertically hingedly connected to said corresponding upper and lower portions of their respectively cooperable uprights and, in conjunction with said gate supporting journal members, can be bodily moved in a horizontal plane about the vertical axes of the hinged connections, permitting said gate when in an outswung state to swing in a horizontal plane, and spring loaded latch means carried by each stile and releasably connectible with fixed keeper plates provided therefor on a coacting component carried by said fixed frame.

14. A multipurpose stock gate structure for use on mobile stock cars and the like, horizontal base means, a vertically elongated stationary frame embodying a pair of spaced parallel coplanar uprights fixed to and rising perpendicularly from said base means, a horizontal cross-member spanning the space between and joining the upper portions of said uprights to each other, said uprights being provided with axially aligned vertical hinging and anchoring elements, movable frame means embodying vertically elongated stiles opposed to, parallel with and spaced from their respectively cooperable uprights, lateral vertically spaced hinging members carried by said stiles and hingedly joined to their respectively cooperating and oriented hinging elements and permitting said stiles to swing toward and away from said uprights in a horizontal plane on the vertical axes of said hinging elements, a vertically tiltable horizontally swingable gate interposed between the respectively spaced uprights and stiles, horizontal gate supporting and assembling journals mounted between the respective lower portions of said uprights and stiles, the left and right lower corner portions of said gate having fixed horizontal semicircular brackets pivotally and removably seated atop their respective journals, releasable retaining means for the gate when closed, and separate releasable retaining means carried by said stiles and connectible with keepers therefor fixed on said horizontal cross-member.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 833,216 10/1906 Hunt 39-82 1,746,270 2/1930 Meinen 3987 2,585,152 2/1952 Merchant 3982 2,590,326 9/1954 Kranick 3987 2,793,897 5/1957 Hendrickson 39-87 2,848,826 8/1958 Heble 39-87 HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SWINGING AND ROTATABLE GATE COMPRISING A STATIONARY FRAME MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE HOLLOW STATIONARY UPRIGHT, A MOVABLE FRAME COMPLEMENTAL TO SAID FIRST-NAMED FRAME AND INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE MOVABLE UPRIGHT POSITIONED IN A PLANE PARALLEL TO AND SPACED FROM SAID STATIONARY UPRIGHT, VERTICAL HINGE MEANS CARRIED WITHIN THE HOLLOW PORTION OF SAID STATIONARY UPRIGHT, MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING SAID MOABLE UPRIGHT TO SAID HINGE MEANS FOR ROTATABLE MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID STATIONARY UPRIGHT, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL CONNECTOR SPANNING THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID UPRIGHTS AND ORIENTED FOR HORIZONTAL SWINGING MOVEMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH SAID MOVABLE UPRIGHT AND DEFINING A HORIZONTAL PIVOT AXIS, AND A GATE MEMBER SANDWICHED BETWEEN SAID 